Double or compound fork



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' E. M. BRADLEY. DOUBLE 0R COMPOUND FORK.

Patented June 28, 1898.

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a nrrn EDWIN M. BRADLEY, OF NEIV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO FREDERICK B. STREET, OF EAST IIAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DOUBLE" OR COMPOUND FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,37 2, dated June 28, 1898. Application filed August 16, 1897. Serial No. 643,377. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN M. BRADLEY, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Double or Compound Forks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a view in side elevation of one form which a double or compound fork con structed in accordance with my invention may assume, the fork being shown with its coupling-fingers interlocked; Fig. 2, a view of the fork in side elevation; Fig. 3, a broken view of the fork in side elevation, showing its two members separated so as to carry the coupling-hooks beyond interlocking range of each other; Fig. 4, a similar view showing the hooks as coupled with the opposing fork handles, so as to reduce the fork to its smallest possible compass for transportation and for being hung up out of the way; Fig. 5, an enlarged view in transverse section on the line a b of Fig. 1, showing the interlocking of the coupling-hooks; Fig. 6, a view in side elevation of one of the modified forms which my improvement may assume; Fig. '7, an edge view thereof; Fig. 8, a broken view, in side elevation, of another modified form which my improvement may assume; Fig. 9, a detached plan view of one of the combined couplinghook and guard blanks used in the construction shown by Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a broken view, in side elevation, of still another modification of myimprovement; Fig. 1]., an end View thereof; Fig. 12, a detached plan view of one of the compound coupling-hooks and guards entering into the modified construction shown by Figs. 10 and 11; Figs. 13 and 14, broken side and edge views of still another modification.

My invention relates to an improved double or compound vise-like fork, by which I mean a pair of forks havingthe outer ends of their handles united and their tines arranged in position to each other for simultaneous and conjunctive use, the object being to produce a simple, convenient, and effective double or compound fork constructed with particular reference to adapting the tine ends of the two forks to be coupled together, so as to permit .the forks to be used for lifting the meat or YVith these ends in view my invention consists in a double orcompound fork, the tine ends of the two forks of which are formed with' inwardly projecting coupling hooks adapted to interlock with each other.

My invention further consists in a double or compound fork composed of two long main wires having their middle portions coiled to form operating-springs, having their intermediate portions twisted to form fork-handies, and their ends bent in opposition to each other to form fork-tines, and the said fork also comprising two auxiliary wires intertwined with the portions of the main wires forming the handles of the two forks and having their outer ends bent to form inwardly-projecting coupling-hooks adapted to interlock with each other when the tine ends of the forks are drawn together, and also to form outwardlyprojecting guards.

In carrying .out my invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I employ two inwardlyprojecting coupling-hooks A and A, formed by suitably bending the extreme inner ends of two auxiliary wires A. A which are also bent at their inner ends to form two outwardly projecting horizontally-arranged loop-like guards A A, the said hooks and guards be ing located virtually at the basesor butts of the tines C C and C C of the two forks, which,

as shown, are formed by suitably bending respect to the planes of the said handles and then bent inward to form the tines C C and C C aforesaid. The said spring-coils C and.

, fork to be grasped directly by the hand of the user, if desired, so that the user is not compelled to grasp the fork by the handles of its l The particular formation of two members. these springs and their open character are clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The auxiliary wires A are intertwined with those twisted portions of the other wires forming the fork-handles O 0 wires, therefore, not only supply the wire necessary for the formation of the hooks A and A and the guards A and A but also supply wire for the stiffening of the fork-handles.

It is designed that after the several wires entering into the fork above described have been combined and bent into the required form the fork shall be immersed in a bath and tinned or otherwise treated, whereby all of the wires are not only protected against rust and finished, but also their twisted and intertwined portions are virtually soldered together, so as to form fork-handles of great strength and rigidity.

In the open or normal condition of the fork its two members are caused to stand apart, as shown in Fig. 3, under the spreading action of the spring-coils C and O", which unite the outer ends of the two fork members. The spread of the fork, or, in other words, the distance to which its two members will be separated by the action of the coils C and 0 will vary according to the set of the said coils and in most cases will probably exceed the separation shown in Fig. 3. In many uses of the forksueh, for instance, as when it is used as a carving-forkit will be used with its ends separated and without anyidea of lockin g the coupling-hooks A and A.

Prior to using the fork as a lifting-hook the user takes it in one hand and contracts the same, so as to draw the two fork members of the fork toward each other, whereby its spring-coils C and O are placed under considerable tension and whereby the hooked ends of its coupling-hooks A-and A are caused to pass each other into position for being engaged when the relaxation of the hand permits the spring-coils to assert themselves and to throw the two members of the fork apart sufficiently for such engagement. When the two hooks are thus engaged, the greater the power tending to separate the two forks the firmer the coupling action of the hooks. Therefore from the moment the hooks are engaged, as described, the fork may be used as a lifting instrument in virtually the same way that a meat-hook might.

The auxiliary thrust into a fowl, at which time the opposite inclination of the tines of the two fork members will tend to somewhatdraw the same together. Now when the hand of the user is relaxed the springcoils of the fork will tend to separate the two fork members, so as to engage the coupling-hooks which were in position for being engaged when the fork was thrust into the fowl. If, however, the tension of the coils is not sufficient to engage the two hooks, the same will be firmly engaged by the weight of the fowl the moment the fork is lifted, and as the weight of the fowl constantly acts through the inwardlyinclined tines of the fork members to crowd the tines apart it will constantly act to more firmly engage the hooks, so that the fork can be virtually used as a lifting-hook for carrying any Weight within the weight required for bending the tines themselves apart. It will thus be seen that when my improved fork is adjusted, as shown in Fig. 1, it may be used as a lifting-hook and with obvious convenience and without impairing the use of the fork as a carving-fork or for any other purpose for which forks are used.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the provision of my improved double or compound fork with coupling-hooks projecting inwardly from the two members of the fork adapts the same to be used for all the purposes for which the fork is ordinarily used, but also permits it to be used as a lifting instrumentand in the manner of a meat-hook. The interlocking hooks also permit the two members of the fork to be held together in an adjustment which reduces the fork to its most compact form, making it convenient to be handled and transported and convenient to be hung up out of the way when it is not in use. This adjustment of the fork is shown in Fig. at of the drawings, which represents its two members drawn so closely together that the hooks instead of interlocking with each other interlock with the extreme inner ends of the respective fork-handles.

The outwardly-projecting guards of my improved fork have the twofold function of preventing the fork from being thrust too far into the meat to be handled and of protecting the hand holding the fork from being cut when the meat heldby the fork is being carved toward the hand.

My improved fork will be found to be particularly effective and convenient in carving meats which tend to fall apart, as its tines may be entered into the meat so as to bind its parts together and enable it to be carved smoothly. My improved fork is particularly adapted for use in carving fowls, as it enables a fowl to be carved while held in a vise-like grip.

WVhile I now prefer the construction shown and described, I do not by any means limit myself to the employment of coupling-hooks in conjunction with such a double or compound fork as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclua loop D which constitutes a spring uniting,

the handles of the two fork members. In

this construction the inwardly-projecting coupling-hooks E and E and the outwardlyprojecting guards E and E are formed by suitably bending the outer ends of supplemental wires E and E, which are spirally wound upon the handles D and D of the two fork members, the said wires being retained in place by inserting their inner ends 6 6 through holes 6 6, formed in the handles of the fork members, and by passing the looplike guards E and E through suitable rectangular openings 6 6 formed at the bases of the tines D D D D A double fork constructed as just described will be readily understood to operate precisely on the same principle as the fork first described.

In the construction shown by Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings the interlocking hooks F and F and the outwardly-projecting guards F and F are formed from sheet metal i11- stead of wire and secured in place by integral arms F In Fig. 9 the blank from which these hooks, guards, and arms are formed is shown, one end of it being longitudinally slit for the formation of the hook and arm, but not bent. The said arms F F are secured by rivets ff to the inner faces of the lower ends of sheet-1netal handles G G, which are reinforced by grips G G,riveted to their outer face by rivets G2 G The tines G G are of course formed integral with the handles and correspond to the tines D and D shown in Fig. 7. It goes without saying that the interlocking hooks of the modification last described act precisely as the hooks of the previously-described devices.

In the construction shown by Figs. 1O, 11, and 12 of the drawings the interlocking hooks II and H are formed of sheet metal and made integral with the guards H and H and riveted to fingers I I, formed integral with the tines I I I 1 which are made of sheet metal and integral with the fork-handles J J, the same being reinforced by grips K K, of wood or other suitable material. In Fig. 11 one of the fingers I, to which the combined sheetmetalhooks and guards are secured, is shown as it appears previously to being bent out into position for the attachment of the said plates.

In the modifications shown by Figs. 13 and 14 the guard L is formed integral with the tines L, while the hook M is made V-shaped and formed with an arm M, which is riveted to the inner face of the extreme lower end of the handle M of one of the two members of the fork, the said arm M providing means for attaching the independently-formed hook to the fork-handle.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention theinterlocking hooks may be formed in a great Variety of other ways, bot-h asto material, particular shape, and mode of application. They maybe combined with guards or not, as desired, though preferably I shall use them in conjunction with guards. It is also apparent that the double fork may be made in a variety of ways, though at the present time I prefer making it as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A double or compound fork composed of two fork members respectively furnished. with inwardly-projecting coupling-hooks, which may be utilized to couple the two fork mem bers together, and adapt the fork to be used as a lifting-hook.

2. A double or compound fork composed of two fork members respectively furnished with inwardly-projecting couplinghooks which may be utilized to couple the two fork members together and adapt the fork to be used as a lifting-hook, and also furnished with outwardly-projecting guards.

i 8. Adouble or compound fork composed of two fork members respectively furnished with inwardlyprojecting coupling-hooks which may be utilized to couple the two fork members together and adapt the fork to be used as a lifting-hook, the said coupling-hooks being formed independently of the two fork members and secured thereto.

4. A double or compound fork composed of two fork members respectively furnished wi th inwardly projecting coupling hooks, which may be utilized to couple the two fork members together, and with outwardly-projecting guards, the hook and guard of each fork member being made integral with each other.

5. A double or compound fork composed of two fork members respectively furnished with inwardly-projecting couplinghooks which may be utilized to couple the two fork members together and adapt the fork to be used as a lifting-hook, and with outwardly-projecting guards, the coupling-hooks and guards of the respective fork members being produced by suitably bending a piece of wire formed independently of and secured to the fork members.

6. A double or compound fork composed of two long main pieces of wire bent midway of their length, having their intermediate portions twisted upon each other to form forkhandles, and having their ends bent to form fork-tines, and two auxiliary pieces of wire intertwined with the handle portions of the fork members, and having their outer ends bent to form outwardly-projecting loop-shaped guards and inwardly projecting couplinghooks which latter may be utilized to couple the two fork members together and adapt the fork to be used as a lifting-hook.

7. A double or compound fork, comprising two long main pieces of wire bent midway of their length to form independent open springcoils lying side by side, having their intermediate portions shaped to form fork-handles, and their ends shaped to form fork-tines, and each of the two members of the fork being provided with inwardly projecting hooks which may be utilized to couple the two members of the fork together and adapt the fork to be used as a lifting-hook.

8. A double or compound fork, comprising two long pieces of wire shaped to form fork handles and tines, and bent to form two open spring-coils uniting the respective fork members and lying side by side, and the said fork members being respectively provided with inwardly-projecting hooks arranged to coact with each other.

9. A double or compound fork, comprising two long main pieces of wire having their middle portions coiled to form two independent open spring-coils lying side by side, having their intermediate portions twisted upon each other to form twisted fork-handles, and having their ends bent to form oppositely-set fork-tines, and the said fork also comprising two auxiliary wires intertwined with those portions of the main wires forming the forkhandles and having their outer ends shaped to form inwardly-projecting hooks and outwardly-projecting guards.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN M. BRADLEY.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN D. KELSEY, GEORGE D. SEYMOUR. 

